Shamrock Jewelers owner Anthony Simpson back in jail

A month after a federal bankruptcy judge ordered the arrest of the former owner of Shamrock Jewelers for failing to come clean about how millions disappeared from the once popular Lake Park store, Anthony Simpson is in the Palm Beach County jail.

Attorney Jesus Suarez, who represents bankruptcy trustee Robert Furr, said Monday he was aware Simpson had been arrested. But, he said, he is still sorting through what it means and which judge – one in Louisiana or a federal bankruptcy judge here – has the upper hand.

Records in Louisiana show that a warrant was issued for Simpson’s arrest on Dec. 15. Officials at Tommy Parker Diamonds said he avoided jail time there last year by agreeing to make monthly payments to cover $61,000 worth of bad checks he wrote to the broker last summer. However, under the court-approved agreement, if he failed to make the court-ordered payments, he was to be arrested.

Simpson’s troubles in bankruptcy court began last year when those who invested $12 million in a high-tech security briefcase he invented filed a petition to recover their money. Furr said he discovered that the briefcase manufacturing operation, Rollaguard Security, was a sham.

Accountants he hired also found that millions washed into Shamrock Jewelers from the briefcase company. For months, Kimball repeatedly ordered Simpson to detail where the money went. Finally, on Jan. 21, he ordered marshal’s to arrest Simpson.

In the meantime, former customers and friends have said Simpson has failed to return jewelry they gave him for repairs and money they loaned him to deal with his financial problems.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Simpson was arrested Friday.